Apparatus for producing kaleidoscopic designs



Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,584

L. A. JONES APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING KALEIDOSCOPIC DESIGNS Filed April 21, 1924 g fimwwaunnmqhmmmmmum 2 f iil iiiil ifil l l INVENTOR, Loyd A. 1/512 es,

BY WXXSW forpro'ducing and recording mobile color L, the ima S2. S3

Patented Nev 6, .?uN-1TED STA torn rss PATENT OFFICE.

JONES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY,

" or. nocnnsrnn, NEW roam-n conrona'rron on NEW vonx.

I Arrmrus non. rn'onuc'me KALEIDOSCOPIC nrsrens.

V App ication filed April 21, 1924. Serial No. 707,900.

Thisinventicn' to instrument effects. 7 v

In particular it is my: ob ect to reproduce the infinitely varying effects that can. be produced 'in' kaleldoscopic apparatus. By I continuously moving the kaleidoscopic prism, a color design and an ornamental design simultaneously at independently variable speeds, designs are produced that merge one intoi the.v other and are expressive of an conduciv to varying emotions. These deicturj process can be projected for purposesfgf entertainment; they can be used as color settings for background or scenic effects for dramatic and-motion picture productions, for backgrounds for titles used for Fig. 2 is a schematic showingofaninstrument embodying my invention;

Fig. 31showsthe detail of the adjustable mounting of the design disc. S represent a source of light and L, a condenser system which brings the rays to a focus at S, substantially at a second collective lens system L The. second lens system L, focuses 'at. F the 1 image of a plane F at or near L At F is a third collective lens system L bringing the rays from S, to a focus. at F A series of these collective lens systems is provided sospaced that at or near alternate ones, L L L and and and at or-near the others L L and L, the images at the plane's F F and F are re roduced, the images of all of these and 'F, eing reproduced together at the last focal plane F,. This is one of a type of optical systems generally known as periscopic systems. 7

The rays fro the light source are in a beam that furnishes a substantially uniform illumination at the screens or planes F to F,

It follows that if a diaphragm or mask be laced at F or-other analoipnus plane, it will be reproduced with a mas g effect at the final plane F while if a diaphragm or mask be placed at S S S or S it W111. affect the amount of light passed, or. intensity of the illumination, but not its border shape. If a reproduced by a color motion e of the light is focused at S},

system L and focused 'at series of image carrying plates are placed" at F F F and F they will be combined and reproduced in focus at F,,. For instance, a co or design may. be placed atF an ornamental-design at F a diaphragm at F and a title at F and there will be produced at F which may be a. projector screen, the

combined image comprising a title on an I ornamental design background selectively colored and masked.

I propose further to'place' just beyond that station, F where an ornamental design would be positioned, an internally reflecting polygonal prism K which would multiply the design atF in a symmetrical pattern,

thus constituting a kaleidoscope. There would then be reproduced at F a title with a masked, coloredkaleidoscopic background.

It isobvious that the position of the colored screen is immaterial if it is desired to color all the rays-uniforml but if it has a changeable color design itjs ould: be introduced at or near one of the planes such as'F It is to be understood that wherever I refer to a lens, there would in practice-be a lens system comprising whatever combina-' tion of elements best fills the particular requirements In Figure 2, I. have shown, largely diametrically, the arrangement of the above system which in practice I have found most; useful. In this diagram the spacing between the elements has been much shortened'i-n order-to give a compact and understandable diagram. Moreover the cas-' ing', supports and such other mechanical detailsas would be necessary in an instrument have been omitted and onlythose essential relationsand arrangements disclosed as" are" useful to an understanding of the invention; 7

Rays from thesource of lights, and its reflector R are collected b the condenser near lens sys= tem L thenreflected downwardly by'- prism P to the lens system 'L, at which is the design disc.f Th1s disc .comprises a round light-- transmitting late 0, which is covered withdesigns, pre erably no11';symmetrical and",

merging one me, another in every direction; This disc is inan annular frame 1 with external gear teeth-2 around its enttire periphions 3 carried on the plate 4, which is guided V ery. These mesh with idle positioning pinlugs 9' sliding in channel a. 10. Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on shaft 8 is worm 11, enga g gear teeth 2.- The plate 4 is adjustab e "as a whole by the rod 12, the screw threads 13 of which engage in a threaded eye in support 14, and which may be turned y handle 15. It is-'obvious that by turning shaft 8 and handle 15 any area such as A or B of the plate 0 can be brought to projection position in line with the end of the kaleidoscopic prism K. The shaft 8 is turned from motor 16 by the cone pulleys 17 1 provided to disconnect the drive from design plate 0. Near the condenser system is mounted a color screen C which is mounted and controlled in the same way as design plate 0. The detailshowing is therefore omitted as it would merely confuse the drawing and the arrows 32 indicate universal adjustment" of this part.

The light rays, after passing through prism K where they are internally'refiected,

I pass through lens system L and reflecting "prism P to lens system L at which is the gate where a suitable masking device M is provided and also a frame '1 for a fixed transparency, or title. The rays then pass to the projection objective L in which is a diaphragm D and are then thrownat the light transmitting, projection .screen F where the resultant im e may be viewed or where itmay be pho graphed.-

In a position from which photographs of the screen may be .made 1s placed a camera 33, preferably a motionpicture color camera, the. details of which constitute nopart of the present invention. It includes. the film reels 35 and 36, film 37, lenses 38, and the light splitting prism system 39. It-isi driven b shaft 40, in which is the clutch :41, contro ed by handle 42. The

variable speed drive comprises the cone pullefvs 43, belt 44 and controlz-h'andle 45, one o the pulleys being shown as mounted on a continuation of shaft 25. As noted above, these parts are all shown schematically, and are not drawn to scale nor in relative proportions. The showing is sufiicient, however, to show the operativerelations of WhlChf my invention consists and from it an 'instrumentdesig-ner could readily lay out a practical embod ment."

In practice the color disc'G, design plate and kaleidoscope prism Kare adjusted and rotated under the control ,of the operator under varying conditions. When be 0b-' 7 I servesflon the screen F a combination that he thinks particularly pleasing he starts the camera and records as much as he thinks desirable. Any one of the elements may be adjusted or its movement stopped, in accordance with the operators wishes. If the purpose is-to make a motion picture title,

the desired lettering design is placed at T,

or the letters may be attached to the pro- -jection screen. The diaphragm D controls the intensity of the light and the mask or diaphragm M the shape of the projected areaf i The record will be reproduced by any desired process preferably as registering diff ferentially colored images on opposite sides of a double coated motion picture film. The kaleidoscopic prism may be of any of the well known forms and may be of a hollow polygonal prism with mirror walls, or a polygonal glass block with internally reflecting surfaces. The symmetry or lackof symmetry in the pattern produced will of course depend largely on the shape of the polygonal section, which may vary in the number of'sides, and may be symmetrical or unsymmetrical.

It is obvious that numerous modifications are possible and I contemplate as within the scope of my invention all such embodiments and equivalents as arecomprehended within the appended claims. I Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

supporting a color screen, two separated design carrying members, means for projecting light in focus from such color screen and each of said design carrying members to a screen, a kaleidoscopic prism mounted in the path of light from one of said design members, certain of said elements being movable, a motion picture camera for recordin the images so. projected and interconnected 1. An instrument comprising means for means for simultaneously varying the images roj ected through the 'kaleidoscopic. prismy movement of such elements and for operating the motion picture camera. Y

2. An instrument comprising a projection screen, twofelements, one element being a support for a design and the second element l elng a support for a kaleidoscopic prism mounted between the first element and the screen, one of said elements being mounted for movement in a definite predetermined manner,-a second desi'gn carrying member mounted between said second element and the screen, and a projection system adapted to project light successively through a design on the first support, a kaleidoscopic prism on the secondsup ort, and a desi third S PP rt,

to project the esigns in on the taneously moving said movable operating sald camera.

the screen, and a projection system adapted to project light successively through a design on the first support, akaleidoscopic prism on the second support, and a desi on the third support, and to project the esigns in" superposition on the sereen, and a motion picture camera for recording the projected designs, and interconnected means for simulelement and 4. An instrument including a source of light, two separated supports for carrying designs in separated planes, a screen, an optical system including, elements directing light from-said source evenly upon.one of said planes, and including also lenses focusing an image from said evenly illuminated plane in superposition upon an image at the other plane and focusing both said imagesin superposition on the screen and including also a rotatable kaleidoscopic prism in the path of light between said evenly illuminated plane and said screen.

5. An instrument including a source of light, two separated supports for carrying designs in separated planes, a screen, an

"optical system including elements directi'n light from said source evenly upon one 0% said planes, and including also lenses focusa a T "nated planes.

ing an image from said evenly illuminated plane in superposition upon an image at the other plane and focusing both said images in superposition on the screen and including also a rotatable kaleidoscopic prism in the path of light between said evenly illumi- 6. An instrument including a source of light, two separated supports for carrying designs in separated planes, a screen, an optical system including elements directing lightifrom said source evenly upon one of said planes,'and including also lenses focusing an image from said evenly illuminated plane in superposition upon an image at the other plane and focusing both said. images in superposition on the screen and including also a rotatable kaleidoscopic prism in the path of light between said evenly illuminated planes and said screen and separately controllablemeans for rotating said kaleidoscope and a design at one of the planes.

7. An instrument including a source of light, two separated supports for carrying designs in separate planes, a screen, an optical system including elements directing light from said source evenly upon one of said planes, and including also lenses focusing an image from said evenly illuminated plane in superposition upon an image at the other plane and focusing both said images in superposition on the screen and including also a rotatable kaleidoscopic prism in the path of light between said evenly illuminated plane and. said screen and separately controllable means for rotating said kaleidoscopic and a design at the evenly illuminated plane. 7

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 15th day of April 1924.

LOYD A. JONES. 

